BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Using Vs. To use

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2009 2:02 pm
Thanked: 3 times
by amirp » Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:15 am
As a customer becomes more comfortable using computers, their purchasing habits change as well.

A - As a customer becomes more comfortable using computers, their
B - As customers become more comfortable using computers, their
C - As a customer becomes more comfortable to use computers, his or her
D - As customers become more comfortable to use computers, their
E - As customers becoming more comfortable using computers, their

The correct answer is choice B

Can someone tell me why we should use 'using' instead of 'to use' in this question? is there a pattern or a rule associated with this?

Thanks
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:29 pm

by Ritwik » Mon Jul 05, 2010 10:14 am
Infinitives are not very noun like. Prefer gerund if you have choice as in this case.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1261
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:46 am
Thanked: 27 times
GMAT Score:570

by reply2spg » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:43 am
Here 'using' is used to show that this is a continuous process. Therefore, 'using' is better that 'to use'.
Another reason to rule out D is that D changes the meaning.

B says since they are comfortable purchasing things using computers their habits are changing.

D says since they are comfortable to use computers their habits are changing. - if they are comfortable to use computers why should their habits need to change?

Please correct me if I am wrong.....I have lot of things to learn from all of you
amirp wrote:As a customer becomes more comfortable using computers, their purchasing habits change as well.

A - As a customer becomes more comfortable using computers, their
B - As customers become more comfortable using computers, their
C - As a customer becomes more comfortable to use computers, his or her
D - As customers become more comfortable to use computers, their
E - As customers becoming more comfortable using computers, their

The correct answer is choice B

Can someone tell me why we should use 'using' instead of 'to use' in this question? is there a pattern or a rule associated with this?

Thanks
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 26
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:51 pm
Thanked: 2 times

by nibake » Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:07 am
I don't blame you for finding this confusing! In this case, using is definitely superior in every way. Why? My intuition tells me so, so I would have to say it is idiomatic. If anyone has a really good explanation of the many subtleties and differences between -ing and infinitives, I would love to see it!

In this case, a plausible grammatical explanation would be:

"using" seems to be a participal modifying customer(s). Participals are modify, like adjectives. To my knowedge, infinitives are NOT used to modify.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1